Diabetes Education Program

   

Do you have diabetes and wish you had better control?

The Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Community Diabetes Program started in 1998 with a mission to prepare people with diabetes to make informed choices every day about their diabetes care. We work with people and their primary care providers to develop successful plans for coping with diabetes and its challenges. The program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education, and is certified by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Individual or group sessions are scheduled as needed. The Diabetes Basics and Insulin Basics programs consist of 4 or more sessions over a 4 to 6 month period. Our registered nurse educator and registered dietitian/certified diabetes educator work with individuals and their care partners to facilitate learning how to manage diabetes and takes steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Sessions are informal and allow hands-on learning. In 2003, participants in the SMCH Diabetes self-management program saw an average reduction in their A1c of 1.7 points.

Annual diabetes follow-up sessions are offered for individuals who have completed the basic diabetes self-management program. Individual diabetes medical nutrition counseling is also available.

We look forward to working with you to help you take control of your diabetes and improve your health and well being. Our goal is for people with diabetes to start a lifelong journey toward learning about and practicing healthy diabetes self-care.

The SMCH Diabetes Support Group is open to all interested people, and meets April through October on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the hospital. Please call our diabetes educators at 712-464-3171, ext. 258 for more information.